Charles W Knakal

US Patent:

20120213997, Aug 23, 2012

Filed:

Feb 21, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/031360

Inventors:

Charles William Knakal - Grosse Ile MI, US
Jeffrey Scott Dahl - Livonia MI, US
Bhavesh Suresh Shah - Troy MI, US

Assignee:

UNITED STATES COUNCIL FOR AUTOMOTIVE RESEARCH - Southfield MI

International Classification:

D01D 11/02
D02J 1/18

US Classification:

428398, 28282, 428364

Abstract:

In one embodiment, a fiber treatment system includes a rotatable nubbed roller including an axis of rotation, a surface, and a number of spaced apart nubs projecting away from the surface, the number of spaced apart nubs imparting a number of spaced apart openings in a fiber tow. In another embodiment, the fiber treatment system further includes an optionally rotatable spreader roller for flattening the fiber tow. In yet another embodiment, the loosened, but still continuous fiber tow is chopped by a downstream chopper to form short fibers with reduced tow sizes.

US Patent:

20190062956, Feb 28, 2019

Filed:

Oct 26, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/171513

Inventors:

- Southfield MI, US
Charles William KNAKAL - Grosse Ile MI, US
Jeffrey Scott DAHL - Livonia MI, US
Bhavesh Suresh SHAH - Troy MI, US

International Classification:

D01G 1/04
D02J 1/18
D01D 11/02
B65H 51/005
B29C 70/12
B29K 307/04
B29K 105/12

Abstract:

In one embodiment, a fiber treatment system includes a rotatable nubbed roller including an axis of rotation, a surface, and a number of spaced apart nubs projecting away from the surface, the number of spaced apart nubs imparting a number of spaced apart openings in a fiber tow. In another embodiment, the fiber treatment system further includes an optionally rotatable spreader roller for flattening the fiber tow. In yet another embodiment, the loosened, but still continuous fiber tow is chopped by a downstream chopper to form short fibers with reduced tow sizes.

US Patent:

20160177475, Jun 23, 2016

Filed:

Feb 19, 2015

Appl. No.:

14/626015

Inventors:

- Southfield MI, US
Charles William KNAKAL - Grosse Ile MI, US
Jeffrey Scott DAHL - Livonia MI, US
Bhavesh Suresh SHAH - Troy MI, US

International Classification:

D01G 1/04
D01D 11/02
D02J 1/18
B29C 70/12

Abstract:

In one embodiment, a fiber treatment system includes a rotatable nubbed roller including an axis 5 of rotation, a surface, and a number of spaced apart nubs projecting away from the surface, the number of spaced apart nubs imparting a number of spaced apart openings in a fiber tow. In another embodiment, the fiber treatment system further includes an optionally 10 rotatable spreader roller for flattening the fiber tow. In yet another embodiment, the loosened, but still continuous fiber tow is chopped by a downstream chopper to form short fibers with reduced tow sizes.